This is a spiritual discourse from Great Spiritual Master Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

                                                         Sri Sri Ravi Shankar











 

(Author’s Note : This is the excerpt from one of the past and famous discourses from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the Great spiritual master and the founder of famous “Art of Living”. After reading and understanding and practicing some of the things mentioned in this discourse reader may be able to understand on how to achieve Tranquility or Peace of Mind within himself. In addition, to give you the effect of tranquility, in the background, I have played notes of Raga Malkauns on my Base (Long) Flute which I hope will bring Peace of mind to the readers. Please give me your feedback through your valuable comment. I have copied this excerpt exactly as it appeared in Newspaper “INDIA IN NEW YORK”  July 4^th, 2008 Issue).  

                               The Five Secrets of Creation

                                   By Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

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Deepening the mystery of creation is science. Deepening the mystery of self is spirituality.

The purpose of the technology is to comfort human beings. When spiritual values—human values are ignored and neglected, technology brings fear and destruction instead of comfort.

Technology without human values would see nature as a dead object. Science gives insight into the life of nature, and spirituality makes nature come alive. For example, in the eyes of the children, there is nothing dead in the world, animals, trees, the sun the moon all are alive, and have emotions and feelings. But in the eyes of the stressed and ignorant person, even human beings are like robots or objects!

Technology without spirituality is destructive. Spirituality is the technology of consciousness, and the whole world is the play and display of consciousness.

One whose eyes are not opened is not amazed by the magnificence of the creation. Tell me, what in the creation is not mystery? Birth is a mystery, Death is a mystery and life itself is certainly a greater mystery.

Samadhi is being completely immersed in the mystery of life and in this creation. Your knowing or believing in really does not matter.

This creation is an unfathomable secret! A wise person makes no effort to conceal a secret. But does he make an effort to reveal a secret either? For example, you do not talk about menstruation or death to a five-year-old. But as children grow older, these things are not hidden from them. These become known as a matter of course.

There are five secrets that are sacred and guarded by subtle beings and angels in this creation.

Janama Rahasya  or secret of birth : Birth is a secret. How a soul takes a body, and the criteria for selecting the place and time of birth, type of body, and parents are all a secret.

Marana Rahasya or secret of death : Death is a highly guarded secret. Death remains a mystery. The process of separation of spirit from matter and its journey from then is a secret.

Raja Rahasya or the secret of governance : The principles of governing and the principles of maintaining orderliness in creation are secret.

Prakriti Rahasya or the secret of the nature : Nature is a mystery. The more you know about nature, more the mystery deepens. The more a scientist knows, more he realizes there is to know. Science, though appearing to resolve the mystery in creation, has deepened it. Knowledge of particles, wave functions, black holes and the vacuum state have only deepened the mystery.

Mantra Rahasya or the secret of Mantras : Mantras are impulses or rhythms of consciousness. The mantras and their effect, influence, method and mode of working are all a mystery.

In the West, a secret is usually shameful and dishonest. However, in the East, a secret is honored and considered sacred. Mysteries of creation only deepen. Getting steeped in the mystery is devotion.

Deepening the mystery of creation is science. Deepening the mystery of self is spirituality. They are two sides of the same coin. If neither science nor spirituality can create wonder and devotion in you, then you are in deep slumber.

Whenever you consider a symbol, place, time, person or act as sacred, your attention is undivided and whole. When the things are the same, you tend to slip into unawareness and inertia. Why does an act that is performed repeatedly lose its sacredness? This happened when your memory overpowers your consciousness and you loose your sensitivity. For example, people living in Varanasi (Benaras), a holy city in India, do not feel that it is a sacred place. Through living in a present moment and through Sadhana, spiritual practices, we can preserve that feeling of sacredness in our acts.

There is a pleasure in rest and there is pleasure in activity. The pleasure in activity is momentary and causes fatigue. The pleasure in rest is magnanimous and energizing. To one who has tasted pleasure in rest (Samadhi), the pleasure in activity is insignificant. But in order to have deep rest, one must be active. The proper balance of both is essential.

The Mind :

Let us examine the five factors that influence the mind. : space, time, food, past impressions, associations and actions.

Space : The place you are in. Every place you are in has a different impact on the mind. Even in your house, you can see that you feel different in different rooms. A place where there has been singing, chanting and meditation has different influence on mind. Suppose you like a particular place, you may find a little later it will not be the same.

Time : Time is also a factor. Different times of the day and year have different influences on the mind.

Food : Different types of food that you eat influence you for a few days.

Past impressions or Karmas have a different impact on the mind. Awareness, alertness, knowledge and meditation all help erase past impressions.

Associations and actions : The people and events you are associated with influence your mind. With certain people your mind behaves one way and with others a different way.

Although these five factors influence your life and your mind, know that Self is more powerful. As you grow in knowledge, you influence them all.

Restlessness:

Now let us examine the types of restlessness and its remedies. There are five types of restlessness :

The first is due to place you are in. When you move away from certain places, streets or houses, you immediately feel better. Chanting, singing, or the innocence of children playing and laughing can change this atmospheric restlessness. If you chant and sing, the vibration in the place changes.

The second type of restlessness is in the body. Eating the wrong food, Vata or aggravating food, eating at odd times, not exercising, and overworking can all cause physical restlessness. The remedy for this is exercise, moderation in the work habits and a one to two day vegetable or juice diet.

The third type of restlessness is mental restlessness. It is caused by ambition, strong thoughts, likes or dislikes. Knowledge alone can cure this restlessness; this includes seeing life from a broader perspective, knowing about the Self and realizing the impermanence of everything. If you achieve everything, so what? After your achievement you will die. Knowledge of your death or life, confidence in the Self and in the divine can all calm down mental restlessness.

There is also emotional restlessness. Any amount of knowledge does not help here. Sudarshan Kriya helps! All that emotional restlessness vanishes. Also the presence of the Guru, a wise person, or a saint will help calm emotional restlessness.

The fifth type of restlessness is rare. It is the restlessness of the Soul. When everything feels empty and meaningless, know you are very fortunate. Do not try to get rid of it.

Embrace it! This restlessness of the Soul can bring authentic prayer in you. It brings perfection, Siddhis and miracles in life. It is so precious to get that longing for the Divine.             

Satsang and presence of enlightened once, soothe the restlessness of the Soul. Do not look for the Divine somewhere else in the sky. See God in every pair of eyes, in the mountains, water, trees and animals. How? Only when you see God in yourself. Only Gods can worship Gods.

Heightened awareness brings you close to the reality. And for this you have to increase your Prana. This can be done through 1. fasting and eating fresh food 2. Pranayams, Sudarshan Kriya, and meditation 3. Silence  4. Cold water baths 5. The right amount of sleep 6. Emotional contentment 7. Presence of the Master 8. Singing and chanting 9. Giving without Givership and service without Doership.

All these together are called as Yagya. When you have reverence for the whole universe, you are in harmony with the whole universe. Then, you do not need to reject or renounce anything. When you have reverence in all your relationships, your own consciousness expands; Even small things appear to be significant and big. Every little creature appears dignified. It is the reverence in every relationship that saves the relationship. Cultivate the skill of having reverence for every moment of your life.